Novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for Pentecost
I. INVITATION TO PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Thy faithful
And kindle in us the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created
And Thou shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray
O God who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort through Christ our Lord. Amen.
II. NOVENA PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You sent the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire upon Your apostles at Pentecost. We beseech You to send us that same Spirit and give us:
- the gift of knowledge to see beyond the present and believe in a future of truth and justice, peace and hope
- the gift of piety to be able to turn to the Father with childlike trust in every situation of life
- the gift of the fear of the Lord to look at ourselves with all honesty without pride or discouragement
- the gift of wisdom that we may not be superficial and restless, so that we may find in You the purpose of our lives
- the gift of understanding that we may see the light of Your Word, Your truth and discover Your plan in our lives
- the gift of counsel to overcome our doubts and fears, crises and compromises, and be guided by You
- the gift of fortitude to resist and overcome our temptations and trials, and to be faithful in our daily tasks in the service of others
III. PRAYER FOR FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
[ Novena Day 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 ]
Novena Day 1: Prayer for the Fruit of Love
O God give me in my life, the fruit of love. Help me to love you so much that I will always be grateful for all that you have given me and done for me. Help me always to remember that You gave me life and everything that makes life worth living, and most of all that you gave me Jesus to be my Saviour, my Model, my Lord and my Friend. Help me to love my fellowmen so much that I will no longer be self-centered but will find the way to happiness in doing things for others. This I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Novena Day 2: Prayer for the Fruit of Joy
O God give me in my life, the fruit of joy. Help me always to be happy and cheerful. Help me still to smile, even when things go wrong, knowing that you are Lord of my circumstances. Help me always to look on the bright side of things, so that I don’t grumble and complain. Don’t let me be a pessimist and a wet blanket. And help me to find my happiness, not in doing what I want, but in doing what you want. Give me a spirit of praise, a sense of awe and wonder, and a prayerful heart. May my faith in You bring me Easter joy always. I ask this through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Novena Day 3: Prayer for the Fruit of Peace
O God give me in my life, the fruit of peace. Help me not to worry but to take things as they come, a day at a time. Help me not to be timid and nervous but to keep cool when I have something difficult or important to do, trusting in your power always. Keep me calm and steady, so that I will never be shaken in my faith, so that others may be able to rely on me when they are up against it. This I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Novena Day 4: Prayer for the Fruit of Patience
O God give me the fruit of patience. Help me to have patience at my work and in my enterprises so that I will never give in but always persevere. Help me to have patience with people, so that I may never lose my temper and never grow cross or irritable or blaze into angry words. Help me not to give up when something takes a long time to do, and when it does not come out right the first time or the second time. Help me to keep trusting in your grace. Let the joy and peace you have given me express itself in difficult times in the virtue of patience. This I ask, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Novena Day 5: Prayer for the Fruit of Kindness
O God give me in my life, the fruit of kindness. Make me quick to see what I can do for others and make me eager and willing to do it. Make me always obliging and willing to lend a hand. Help me never to be mean or selfish, but always to be ready to share whatever I have, even if I do not possess very much. Help me never to speak unkind words and never to do cruel deeds. Help me to think the best of others, and always to be willing to forgive rather than to condemn. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Novena Day 6: Prayer for the Fruit of Goodness
O God give me in my life the fruit of goodness. Help me to be, in everything I do and say, a good example to others. Keep my words honest, pure and sincere. Keep my actions fit for you to see, and help me never to do anything that I would need to keep secret. Keep all my thoughts clean and honest, and grant me the grace to be humble. May I offer a smile to everyone. In everything keep me from pride and from self-conceit; and help me to do at least one good deed every day. Hear this my prayer, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Novena Day 7: Prayer for the Fruit of Faithfulness
O God give me in my life, the fruit of faithfulness. Keep me always true to myself, true to my friends, true to those who love me, and true to you. Grant that nothing may ever make me tell a lie of any kind, either by exaggeration or understatement. If I say that I will do something, grant that others may be able to rely absolutely on me to do it. Help me always to stand by my friends and never to let them down; and help me never to grieve or disappoint those who love me and those whom I love. Make me faithful in my duties within and outside the family, in my personal prayer, my study of God’s Word, my use of the charisms, my service of the parish and of society, and my work. This I ask through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Novena Day 8: Prayer for the Fruit of Gentleness
O God give me in my life, the fruit of gentleness. Help me never to speak an angry or cruel word, and never to hurt or wound any person or any animal. Help me not to be rough, stern or severe in my behavior with others, but compassionate towards all. Make me especially gentle and thoughtful with those who are sick, sad, old, weak and easily hurt. This I ask, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Novena Day 9: Prayer for the Fruit of Self-Control
O God give me in my life the fruit of self-control. Please take control of me, so that I am controlled by your love alone. Help me always to control my temper, my tongue, my feelings and my impulses. Grant that I may never be swept away in a moment of anger or passion. Help me to control my thoughts, so that no bitter or unclean thought stays in my mind. Help me overcome habits of self- abuse, smoking, alcoholism and all immorality. Help me to control my impulses and passions wisely, not by repressing them, but by channeling them to works of mercy. I make this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
IV. FIAT PRAYER
Most Holy Spirit help us in union with Mary, to relive the mysteries of Jesus’ life. Grant that we may be inspired by the faith of our Baptism, nourished by the Eucharist, renewed by the grace of Pentecost, so as to live in word and deed, always and everywhere, as faithful witnesses of Christ, and of the love of His Divine Heart, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.